Settling Back In

Amman at sunset - Iftar

I can't be bothered to blog on the whole August holiday. The blog is mainly for everyone who was there and have all the photos and memories anyway. Suffice to say, the kids were so happy to see everyone, and although they were sad to leave, they didn't linger in that sadness but jumped back into life in Amman as soon as we got here.

Highlights for the kids? Playing with Webster. Playing with cousins. Getting new books and reading them with the grandparents. Playing on the beach. Playing in the mountain creek at the park in Banner Elk. Going to Tweetsie Railroad: our first ever "Family Theme Park." The Chattanooga Aquarium. Playing with friends in the Coolidge Park fountain and swimming at the neighborhood club. And of course, getting loads of loving attention from all the relatives.

We had a week or so and then it was back to school. Miles is in what they call KG2 (that would be kindergarten in the States) which makes him part of the Biggest Kids class at Hill House. Eliza has moved up from the Littlest Kids' class (Nursery), and is now in what they call "Foundation." Most of the kids in their classes are the same as last year, so only the classroom and teachers have changed. And they are riding the bus home which is such a treasure that Eliza cries any time I pick them up instead! There's an adult attendant on their little bus who sits with them. They just wear lap belts (which is more protection than most of the kids in Jordan get), but they are the first stop...just 2 minutes away...so I don't feel too stressed about it.

Today is the last day of Ramadan when many Muslims fast: between sunrise and sunset, no food, water, cigarettes, etc. Nothing! This is especially hard in the summer when the days are hot and long. Most restaurants are only open after sunset, and the restaurants that are open cannot have people eating outside: they keep the blinds down. For a month! I go to work and hide my coffee alongside the desk, sipping surreptitiously. I bring my lunch and eat it on the rooftop. I feel guilty when people see me chewing gum while driving. Anyway...glad that's over! And that we have a week holiday to take some day trips with the kids and our friends.

Eliza riding her bike in the park.


Miles doing homework for the first time.

Triops invading America

Miles wrote Happy Birthday Mommy by himself (D told him the letters). The "Istana" is the largest snake in the world.